Qur'an

Question 1

TQ: Simply, what is the Qur’an?

Answer 1

-A collection of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, dictated to the disciples who learned them off by heart, and therby compiled the collection.

Question 2

TQ: When and where was Muhammad born?

Answer 2

Muhammad was born in Mecca about 570 CE.

Died at age 62.

Question 3

TQ: Who was Khadija?

Answer 3

Muhammad’s wife.

Question 4

TQ: When does the Islamic calendar start?

Answer 4

From when muhammed migrated from Mecca to the place that came to be called Medina.

Question 5

TQ: When and where did Muhammad receive his first revelation?

Answer 5

• Age 40
• The Cave of Hira, outside Mecca.
• Ergo last 23 years of his life are the source of the Qur’an

Question 6

TQ: What are the components of the Qur’an?

Answer 6

• Made up of Sura’s.
• Each Sura is composed of a number of verses, each verse called an aya.
• Scholars distinguish the Suras from different periods (Meccan Suras// Medinan Suras)

Question 7

TQ: When was the Qur’an assembled and in what language?

Answer 7

• 7th Century A.D.

- Arabic

Question 8

TQ: What punishment does Allah have in mind for non-believers?

Answer 8

• Apostates will be killed for leaving Islam.
• Deaf, dumb and blind / left in darkness.
• Punishment for those who hear Allah’s word and ignore it,

Question 9

TQ: What punishment does Allah have in mind for non-believers?

Answer 9

• Apostates will be killed for leaving Islam.
• Deaf, dumb and blind / left in darkness.
• Punishment for those who hear Allah’s word and ignore it.

Question 10

TQ: How are Qur’anic revelations regarded by Muslims?

Answer 10

-The sacred word of God.

Question 11

TQ: How does the Qur’an relate to Christian scripture?

Answer 11

-Intended to correct any errors in previous holy books such as the Old and New Testaments.

Question 12

TQ: What is the ultimate reward for a devout Islamic life?

Answer 12

• A holy land with virgins, no concern for sin, a lifestyle of pleasure and bliss (food and wine).
• If you have led a sinful life, you will go to hell.

Question 13

TQ: What do nearly all 114 chapters of the Qur’an start with?

Answer 13

“Bismillahir rahmanir raheem”

“In the name of Allah the most merciful and the most kind.”

Question 14

TQ: How was the text originally received by the public?

Answer 14

At the time of the revelation, books were not readily available and so it was common for people to instead learn it by heart.
Any person who is able to accomplish this is known as a hafiz.

Question 15

TQ: How does the Qur’an relate to other Islamic texts?

Answer 15

The Sunnah and the Hadith are more focused on the character, and examples of the Prophet Muhammad as a historical figure.

Question 16

TQ: How does the Qur’an stand as a literary text?

Answer 16

The Qur’an’s masterful use of poetic language and verse has left it considered the best of Arabic literature.

There can never be Arabic literature or poetry that ignores the Arabic of the Qur’an.

It is said that for this reason it cannot truly be translated into another language.

Question 17

TQ: What was the more immediate impact of the Qur’an?

Answer 17

• It led the middle-east, which was arguably disorganised beforehand, into a period called ‘The Islamic Golden Age’
• Which followed the death of Muhammad in the 7th century.
• This was from the 8th century to the 14th.
• The Islamic world was ruled by various caliphates.
• Science, economic development and cultural works flourished.

Question 18

TQ: What is the impact of the Qur’an today?

Answer 18

-1.8 billion Muslims in the world, making it the 2nd largest religion.